Not gun related per se - granddaughter wants a pocket knife

I have not raised children. At 30 I married into a family that had a girl in college and a son in high school. I was blessed with a wonderful granddaughter within a year of marriage (talk about quick family). That granddaughter was raised by us all to some degree. She learned to drive and shoot early in her life. Tonka trucks, fishing and tea parties were a part of her youth.
I have an 11 year old granddaughter via my son. This has been the more traditional grandchild for me - see her a few times a year, send her home. However, I do have a couple of guns set aside for training her and she has done well with them.
She recently mentioned to her father, my son, that she would like a pocket knife. Now, I can teach a child how to safely handle a firearm. But giving a child a pocket knife has me a little spooked. Admittedly, my father probably gave me my first Case when I was younger than that, but I was raised in rural Texas during a time where a kid on a bicycle with a 22 rifle heading to the river to shoot cans would not have raised alarms.
This granddaughter is not as mature as my first one at this age. We raised our oldest granddaughter by what I call the old rural code and she has turned out ok. This younger one is a city girl from what is now a split family. Just not sure if I ought to ignore the desire for a pocket knife or get her one and see what happens. I can explain how easy it is to hurt oneself or others with it, just like a gun. But at the end of the day, the gun goes back under my watch.

i guess I should have indicated my age. I am 60. The bar of soap thing is a great idea. Just kind of hard for me to picture this granddaughter with a pocket knife. My oldest one, yes. This one is more bling and girlish. My older one - she got a Sig p238 Nitro for her birthday last year and a Binelli pump shot gun for Christmas. Guess grandpa's favorite is obvious.

Thanks for the tips. Learned a few ways to make it work. Also reminded me I need to take her to the range while she is in town and shoot her guns. Also want to let her try out my little Charter Arms 22 revolver. First time, I made the mistake of bringing a 6 inch stainless Ruger Single Six 22. Not a good choice. But going to make sure I have a bar of soap if she ends up wanting to sitting around an whittle with me around the camp fire. If she does, will see where it goes.
Not sure what my dad's mindset or thought process was when he gave me my first knife or gun 50 or so years ago. Wonder if he thought it out much.

Paco42 said:

OP said that the granddaughter in question mentioned to her father—the OP’s son—that she’d like a pocket knife. This does not place upon OP (grandfather) any responsibility at all regarding making a decision about her possession/use of a knife (of any sort). I understand that OP has concerns, and these seem reasonable. The only bit of advice I’d offer would be that OP share those concerns with the father and then step aside. WADR to OP, it’s up to the parents to decide what is best for their child, not granddad.

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Point is made. To further clarify, from what I recall, the granddaughter asked if papa would be getting her a pocket knife. But in any event, no way would I even go down this path unless mom and dad were aware. They were brought into the loop prior to taking her shooting, etc. I think they kind of see these things as a role for the grandfather. Her maternal grandfather is not one for the outdoors any longer and does some shooting, but spends a lot less time with her than I do.

I am thinking a single blade, rounded nose and a lock as an appropriate first knife. Will be seeing if she shows interest in knifes over the weekend and next week This weekend she is camping with us, along with her father. Next week she is staying with us and will probably make at least one range visit. When it is all said and done, it may have been a whim and she has since forgotten about knifes.